Comparison of Audio Bluetooth 3.0 and 5.0

Comparison of Audio Bluetooth 3.0 and 5.0

Coming to bluetooth in audio purposes, we now have variations from 3.0 to five.4. In the sensible audio utility we now have to maintain 2-3 issues in thoughts. Like we’d like what’s the max energy it’s consuming, what’s the SNR of the obtained sign and what’s the very best energy situations. Some different parameters like wi-fi vary, noise in sign, DAC decision and variety of bits additionally play an essential function right here. Today within the article we are going to plot all of them and see the distinction in efficiency of a 3.0 and 5.0 bluetooth in actual time.

I’ve accessible lots of them in inventory, starting from 3.0 to five.0 however right here particularly utilizing these two. I’ve coated an article intimately about these low-cost bluetooth modules. There is one producer from China named JIELI who has been engaged on these BT nodes for a very long time. Although the knowledge isn’t open sourced, so we can’t make any adjustments to the firmware with out correct software program. Some of the datasheets are shared within the earlier article when I’m designing my very own board utilizing them.

This article is sponsored by PCBWAY. I’ve created my very own BT5.0 with USB-C, you’ll be able to see the entire mission in a github repo right here. After plugging an exterior battery as an influence supply we will convert any wired headphones/earphones into BT managed. The PCB is shared under. I’m happy by the standard of PCBWAY companies, the PCBs are superior and work nicely.

Bluetooth 3.0 and 5.0 Testing RIG/CASE:

I’m utilizing 5.10 volts out from a relentless energy provide. The sign is taken from a web-based sign generator, maxed to all ranges @3500Hz sine wave. I selected this sign particularly as a result of it’s not a lot low and never a lot excessive frequency is available in listening to vary. If we select between high and low frequency extremes there can be a sure type of attenuation in sign. I don’t need to go in depth however they’re due to digital filters used contained in the chip. They have a wavy impact within the move and cease band. To make the check extra very best, the sine wave chosen right here is sampled at 44.1KHz which surpasses the nyquist restrict virtually 40 instances. So clearly it is a perfect sign, a perfect 3500 Hz sine wave.

Test 1 – Peak-Peak Amplitude Test:

Both the bluetooth has onboard sign conditioning circuit, in 3.0 we now have seen a excessive amplitude pulse superimposed in sign which is nothing however as a result of its low decision will speak about it later. The peak-peak output of three.0 is 1.90V and in case of 5.0 it’s 2.15V. Which is 13% increment over 3.0 Gen BT.

Test 2- Resolution and Number of Bits:

Due to not open sourced documentation we can’t get the precise variety of bits, and backbone however from a sign engineer perspective we will see one thing on a scope. It is mainly the DAC decision however right here I’ve seen one thing totally different, A excessive frequency wave superimposed over 3500 Hz wave, which will be seen via FFT however right here I don’t accessible that possibility. In the case of three.0 this superimposed wave is of considerably a decrease frequency than 5.0 so it appears to be like terrible right here. By the way in which total 5.0 provides me a smoother sign which additionally I can see when hooking it with an amplifier there is no such thing as a any HUM or noise in 5.0 then again 3.0 performs very a lot worse.

Test 3 – Noise in Ideal Mode:

Here very best mode is outlined because the bluetooth is linked to the supply however there is no such thing as a sign given. The noise is in contrast with each BT modules. Ideally we must always get a straight line when there is no such thing as a sign however that’s not the situation with these DSPs. I’ve seen a P-P noise of 650mV in 3.0 and 158mV in 5.0. This is the place the 5.0 dominates and eliminates the competitors. It is sort of a 400% discount in noise ranges.

Test 4 – Power Consumption in Ideal Mode:

Here very best mode is outlined because the bluetooth is linked to the supply however there is no such thing as a sign given. In this each the BT modules carry out the identical. Both are consuming 40mW of energy.

Test 5 – Power Consumption in Full Signal Mode:

When each BT modules output full sign the scene adjustments, normally what we see is {that a} 5.0 BT comes with low energy right here consuming 80mW and three.0 round 55mW. This may rely upon the P-P output sign of each BT modules.

Test 6 – Ideal State Signal Analysis:

Here very best mode is outlined because the bluetooth is linked to the supply however there is no such thing as a sign given. In the best state when bluetooth notices a no sign situation then to scale back the general noise degree the low energy mode is applied mechanically contained in the chip. Which cuts the ability to the output therefore we are going to see a dip in very best state noise degree after a while. In 5.0 this low energy is applied inside 0.5 seconds of time in 3.0 the chip processing takes round 10 seconds time.

My designed 5.0 BT:

Get the complete mission from this REPO right here, you’ll be able to obtain the GERBER and order the elements, assemble them and get all the pieces finished. I’ve lots of them lane round. Let me know for those who want an in depth comparability of every other or any particular. I designed this PCB and acquired it finished from PCBWAY. After meeting it really works nice, has USB C, onboard antenna, 3.5mm connector and key button. Connect your wired headphones, energy it up with a 3.7 Lipo and you change your headphones into wi-fi ones. So easy, cheaper and of excellent high quality.

Need to cost the battery, the onboard circuit can do it. All that is potential as a result of PCBWAY companies, PCBWAY is the certainly one of topmost producers in China which fulfil all of the prototyping necessities of your mission. Explore now and get your PCBs finished, get free coupons on first sign-up.

Outro:

These are the checks I’ve carried out utilizing my scope, as a result of limitation of lab tools I’m not in a position to measure the quick Fourier rework. These are the fantastic thing about digital sign processing models inside these small chips. They are mainly 32 BIT microcontrollers that are tailored for bluetooth and sign processing purposes.

I at all times surprise how I acquired my fingers on them so cheaply. 3.0 prices me round $0.8 and 5.0 is round $2.5 not the chips however the entire assembled boards. If you’re keen on the work, take into account supporting me via Patreon. And if you’re engaged on PCB tasks strive PCBWAY companies to make your tasks look extra good.

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July 5, 2025 at 04:45PM